Metal pole construction



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 3, 1934. c. E. KNuTsEN 'METAL POLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 6, 1930 April 3, 1934. c. E. KNuTsEN METAL POLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 6, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Caf/ f, /fm/e/v ATTORNEY most effective ina-nner.

i atenteci Apr.. i934 stars 6 Claims.

Whfle this invention relates in general to a metal pole construction, it relates more particularly to the construction of such poles of considerable height, suitable to be utilized for a Wide variety ci purposes. The accompanying drawings show the invention as embodied in a metal pole construction equipped for use as a ciothesline pole, such as are erected at the rear of apartment houses and some or" which are as much as fifty feet high. However, such poles embody ing the invention could be used for substantially any purpose Whatever where a pole is required. For example, as a telephone pole, or as a pole tor carrying electric power lines, also a windmill tower could be constructed in accordance with this invention.

One of the objects of the invention is economy of manufacture, by reason of which a pole censtructed in accordance with this invention is relatively inexpensive. In this connection, another object of the invention is to eliminate the heretofore usual practice or" using bolts, rivets, or other separate securing devices. Other ixnportant objects of the invention are strength and rigidity, together with lightness and the use of a minimum amount of material. Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

In carrying out the invention, cross pieces in the form of clips are employed to have an interlocked relation with main upright bars, such as channel bars or other angle bars, with the flanges of which these clips interlock for thereby firmly and rigidly connecting these upright bars together to produce a firm and rigid pole construction. 'Ihe particular construction of the clip bars which form the cross pieces is an important feature of the invention. In this connection, another feature of the invention has reference to the arrangement of these cross pieces in a staggered or offset relation at the opposite sides of a pair of channel bars forming the main uprights, whereby the pole is strengthened in the Another feature of the invention relates to the means employed for connecting together or splicing upper and lower sectional parts of the uprights, more particularly when these uprights are channel bars. Another feature of the invention relates to the construction and mounting of cross arms on the pole structure to project horizontally therefrom and to which the lines or wires to be supported by the pole may be attached. The invention also includes various features of construction and combinations of parts, as will appear from the following description.

One embodiment of the invention, together with a few variations therein, as is shown in the accompanying drawings, will now be described 69 and thereafter the invention will be pointed out in claims, reference now being had to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a pole construction embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar enlarged View with parts broken out along the length of the pole;

3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 as viewed from the left side;

Fig. l is a further enlarged top or plan view of Fig. 2 with parts omitted;

Fig. 5 is a partial central vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged partial central vertical section of the une 6 6 of Fig. 3; 75

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the lines '7-7 of Figs. 2 and 6;

Fig. 8 is an edge View partly in horizontal section of one of the clip bars forming the cross pieces, before its assembly in the pole construction;

Fig. 9 is a similar View showing this clip bar as initially placed in position with a pair of channel bars which are to form a pair of main side uprights in the pole construction;

Fig. 10 is a View similar to Fig. 9 showing this clip bar in its final interlocked condition with the channel bars for firmly and rigidly connecting these bars together;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal cross section of a somewhat variant pole construction employing the same kind of clip bars as cross pieces for connecting together four angle bars, instead of a pair of channel bars, as shown in the preceding views;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing substantially the same kind of clip bars as forming cross pieces connecting together three 60 angle bars which form the main uprights of this variant pole construction;

Fig. 13 is a somewhat enlarged horizontal section on the line 13-13 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 14 is a vertical section on the lines lll-14 of Figs. l and 13; and

Fig. 15 is a similar partial vertical section on the line 15-15 of Fig. 13.

In what has proved to be a desirable practical embodiment of the invention, a pair of identical channel bars 1 form horizontally spaced main side uprights of the pole construction. These channels are disposed with their flat web sides directed towards or facing each other and with their flanges projecting oppositely outward and in alignment, for the respective channels. These two channels l are slightly inclined towards each other in an upward direction, so that thereby the pole is slightly tapering upwardly in one transverse direction, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

These two neighboring channel uprights l are firmly and rigidly connected together by means of clip bars 2 which form horizontal cross pieces. These cross pieces 2, throughout the major intermediate part of the height of the pole, are arranged in a double series in staggered equidistantly vertically spaced relation, on the opposite sides of the pair of channel uprights l. This intermediate staggered relation of the two sets or series of the cross pieces 2 contributes to the strength and lightness as well as economy of material. These cross pieces 2 may be conveniently used for steps similarly to the rungs in a ladder for climbing the pole, as should be clear from Fig. 1 in particular.

By reason of the slight upward tapering of the pole, due to the inclination or" the channels towards each other, as above noted, the clip 'bars 2 forming the horizontal cross pieces will be of correspondingly slightly different lengths at diierent elevations on the pole construction, but in other respects all of these cross pieces 2 may be of like construction and are thus shown in the drawings. Initially or before their assembly in the pole construction with the main side pieces such as the channels 1, these clip bars 2 will be or" the shape shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and may be conveniently thus stamped out from a strip or flat bar of metal.

These initially shaped clip bars 2 have longitudinally spaced lugs 3 struck out therefrom in indented form to be transversely rounded and tapering, as shown, but providing at their oppositely directed ends abrupt abutment shoulders, shown as at right angles to the length of the clip bar 2. Outwardly from these shoulders formed by the lugs 3, a distance substantially equal to the width of the flanges of the channel bars 1, the end portions of the clip bar 2 are turned over at right angles towards the same side as the lugs 3, to form end lugs 4.

These clip bars 2, such as shown per se in Fig. 8, may then be placed upon the channel bars 1, as is shown in Fig. 9. As there shown, the oppositely directed shoulders formed by the lugs 3 will then engage with the adjacent margins of the nat web sides of the channels 1, while the terminal lugs 4 will t over the edges of the oppositely directed aligned ilanges of these channels. The right angular end lugs 4 are then turned over the edges and against the inner sides of the flanges of the channels 1, to form hooks 5 which rmly grip these flanges of the channels and force the marginal portions of the flat web sides of these channels tightly against the abutment shoulders formed by the indented lugs 3, as is clearly shown, for example, in Figs. 4, 5 and 10. These end lugs 4 may be thus bent over to form the gripping hooks 5 in a convenient manner by the use of a suitable press, or if so desired this operation could be readily accomplished merely by the use of simple hand tools. as should be obvious.

These clip bars 2, with their shoulder-forming abutment lugs 3 and gripping hooks 5, thus have a rm and rigid interlocking engagement with the channels 1 which form. the main` side uprights of the metal pole construction, such as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3. Thereby there is provided a strong and rigid pole structure, without the use of separate securing devices such as bolts or rivets. However, it might be noted that in the case of extremely high cr tall poles, these clip bars 2 may be conveniently further or additionally secured to the uprights, such as the channel 1, by means of spot welding, if deemed advisable or so desired in any particular instance. Ordinarily, however, or in most instances, the interlocking gripping relation of these clip bars 2 with the uprights 1 has proved adequate in practice in carrying out the invention.

It will be noted that, while throughout the length of the pole in its intermediate parts these clip bars are disposed in relatively staggered reu lation at the opposite sides of the pair of channel uprights l, at the top ends of these uprights two such clip bars 2 are shown as there mounted opposite to one another, as appear in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

In carrying out the invention, splices or joints may be made between relatively upper and lower parts or sections of the main uprights, such as the channels 1. In the drawings, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7, one such joint or splice is shown, although it is to be understood that such splices or joints between the sectional parts of the main uprights may similarly occur at other heights along the pole structure, in the case of high or tall poles. In the construction shown, the two main upper channel sections 1 of the uprights have their lower end portions overlapping for some considerable distance upon and fitting within the flan es of larger sized lower channel sections 6,

as shown in the drawings.

These lower channel sections 6 are connected together by means of the clip bars 2, in like manner to the upper channel sections 1, as above described. The upper ends of these lower channel sections 6 are thus connected together by a pair of oppositely disposed clip bars 2, as shown in the drawings, as well as also at an intermediate point below the lower ends the upper channel bars 1, and it is to be understood that another similar pair or" clip bars 2 are installed at the lower ends of these lower channel sections 6. Thus such upper, intermediate and lower clip bars 2 on these channel bars 6 are desirably arranged in pairs, with the clip bars 2 of each such pair opposite to each other.

In the construction shown, these two lower channel sections 6 form anchor posts for the pole superstructure, including the two upper channel sections l. Thus throughout the major part of their length these lower channel sections 6, from their lower ends up to a point above their intermediate clip bars 2, are shown as embedded in a concrete block 7 which is set in the ground, as indicated in Fig. l., thereby to provide a secure setting or anchor for the pole structure.

IThe means shown as employed in carrying out the invention for firmly and securely connecting the overlapping interfitting end portions of the upper channel sections 1 with the lower channel sections 6, will now be described. Adjacent to the upper ends of the lower channel sections 6, each of the upper channel sections 1 has struck outwardly from its web a downwardly and outwardly inclined tongue 8, of the inwardly trough-shaped cross section appearing in Fig. '7. This tongue 8 fits in wedging relation downwardly over an outwardly and downwardly inclined lug 9, which is of the shape of a rather wide capital letter V. thereby forming, at the outer side of the web of fio the channel 6 adjacent to its upper end, a ridge the shape of which is complementary to and downwardly over which the above noted tongue 8 fits in close interengaging wedging relation. It will be noted that the upper portion of this tongue 8 adjacent to the web of the channel 1 is of more abrupt inclination, by reason of which it will form a wedging stop in engagement with the upper end oi the lug 9, which at that point, it will be noted, particularly from 6, is in horizontal alignment or iiush with the upper end of the lower channel section 6.

The lower end portion of the upper channel section 1 is struck outwardly to form an outwardly and downwardly inclined tongue 10, which is also, particularly towards its lower end, of substantially the same trough shape in cross section as the above described upper tongue 8, as will be clear from the drawings, particularly from the lower part of Fig. 6. This tongue 10, on the web or" the lower end of the upper channel section 1, projects outwardly and downwardly in wedging relation through an opening 11 in the web of the lower channel section 6, as shown in the drawings, particularly in Fig. 6. This opening 11 is produced in the web ci the channel 6 by striking outwardly a downwardly and outwardly inwardly trough-shaped inclined projecting portion 12 which fits over and is of a trough shape complementary to the upper surface of the tongue 10.

In effecting the assembly of the upper and lower channels 1 and 6, this projection 12 forms a convenient guide for directing the tongue 10 through the opening 11, and also holds this tongue firmly in its wedged condition with the web of the lower channel section 6. It will thus be seen that the overlapping end portions of the upper and lower channels 1 and 6 will be drawn iiatly and firmly together, particularly by reason of the weight of the upper channels 1, with the parts carried thereby and the load carried by the pole. If deemed advisable, in any particular instance, it is obvious that the webs of the intertting portions of the upper and lower channels l and 6 may be spot welded together, but ordinarily that would not be required, particularly since the long overlap and interlocked relation of these channels provide adequate security against their disengagement.

For carrying its load, the pole structure may be provided with any desired number of cross arms 13 to project at their opposite ends beyond the opposite sides of the pole. Two such cross arms 13 are shown in the drawings, one of which is at the top of the pole and the other of which is at a lower intermediate point thereon. Each of these cross arms 13 may be conveniently made from a substantially ordinary 90 angle bar, of which, however, at least one of the ilanges should be or greater width than the clip bars 2 which form the cross pieces, for reasons which will presently appear. Each of these cross arms 13 is firmly secured to one of the clip bars 2. Each of these angle bar cross arms 13 has a downwardly extending iiange of greater width than and lying flat against the flat outer face of the clip bar 2, below which it projects, while the other iiange of this cross arm projects horizontally outward from the top thereof.

The vertical flange of this cross arm 13, which is substantially wider than the clip bar 2, is broken out at the middle of the cross arm and the broken out portion is turned rearwardly and downwardly in hook shape to form a prong 14 at the back of the inner side ofthe clip bar 2 at a middle point of the latter, between its abutment-forming lugs 3, for thereby supporting this cross arm 13 on the clip bar 2. The extreme lower end portion 15 of this hook 1li, which projects below the lower edge of the clip bar 2, is then turned or bent over forwardly beneath this lower edge of the clip bar, to have an interlocked engagement with the clip bar, so that thereby there is no possibility of the hook le becoming disengaged from the clip bar.

As a means for further firmly securing the cross arm 13 to the clip bar 2, against movement thereon, portions 16 of its downwardly projecting lower flange, at the opposite sides of the prong 14, are shown as cut out and bent rearwardly beneath the lower edge of the clip bar, so as thereby to have an interlocking engagement with the clip bar. It will be noted that these rearwardly bent iiange portions 16 cooperate with the prong 14 and its forwardly bent end 15 to prevent the possibility of any rocking movement of the cross arm 13 on the clip bar 2. At each of the opposite projecting ends of the cross arm 13, its horizontal upper flange is turned upward at right angles and formed into hooks 17 which, in the particular construction shown in the drawings, provide for the convenient attachment of clotheslines.

These cross arms 13 of course may be of greater length, so as to project to a greater extent than is shown in the drawings. Also it is to be understood that, instead of the hooks 17, as shown, such cross arms may be provided with other means for carrying its load, such for example as suitable means for suporting thereon electric power, telephone or telegraph lines. Instead of the single interlocked hook 14 shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that in some instances, with longer clip bars 2, there could be two such hooks 14. with turned over locking ends 15. Also, in

such case, there could then be an additional rearil wardly turned ange portion, such as 16, between such pair of locking hooks 14. Although in all probability it would never be required, it is obvious that, if so desired in any particular instance, the cross arm 13 could be additionally secured to the clip bar 2 by spot welding.

Also it might be noted that a cross arm, such as 13, could be formed directly on one of the clip bars 2, in one piece therewith and mounted on the uprights, such as 1, in the same way as these clip bars 2, merely by using an angle bar to form such clip bar, and then forming the hooks 17, or providing other loadcarrying means, on the extended projecting end portions of the horizontal flange of this angle bar, substantially the same in that respect as in the construction shown in the drawings, thereby producing a combined clip bar and cross arm.

In the variant or modified pole construction shown in Fig. l1, the same clip bars 2 as hereinbefore described are employed, having shoulderproviding abutment lugs 3 and turned over hook forming outer ends 5. However, instead of the pair of channel uprights l, as hereinbefore described, the pole construction shown in Fig. 1l has its main uprights formed by four 90 angle bars 18 disposed in horizontally spaced quadrangular relation, with the flanges of these angle bars, at each of the four sides of the quadrangle, projecting oppositely outward in alignment, so that thereby the reentrant angle formed by the flanges of each of these angle bars is at the outside of the pole.

Accordingly, these four angle bars 18 are connected together by four vertical series of the clip bars 2, one of such series for connecting together the two neighboring angle bars 18 at each of the four sides of the quadrangle, as shown in Fig. 11. These clip bars 2 are disposed to lie against the inner hat sides o these two neighboring angle bars 18, that is to say, between the respective pairs of bars, which adjacent to their inner corners or salient angles, abut against the shoulders formed by the lugs 3, while the gripping and clamping hooks of these clip bars are turned over the outside edges of the outwardly projecting flanges of the respective angle bars 18. as is clearly shown.

In the further variant or modified construction of pole as shown in Fig. 12, three 600 angle bars 19 are employed for the main uprights of the pole structure. These 60 angle bars 19 are arranged to form, as shown, an equilateral and therefore also an equiangular triangle, with the apice or salient angle of each of the three angle bars 19 directed inwardly towards the center of this triangle, so that thereby the dat sides of these neighboring angle bars 19 are in alignment along each side of the triangle, with their flanges projecting outwardly. rlhe same clip bars 2, as hereinbefore described, could also be here employed if so desired, but by reason of the 60 angle formed by the flanges of the angle bars 19, slightly diierent or modified clip bars 20 are shown as employed.

The only different feature of construction in these clip bars 20, as compared with the previously described clip bars 2, is that the struck out lugs 21 are shaped at their shoulder-providing ends to provide inclined or undercut shoulders, so as thereby to fit closely and tightly against the side margins of the angle bars 19 adjacent to their salient angles, as clearly appears in this Fig. 12. These clip bars 2O are at the inner sides of the angle bars 19, similarly in that respect to the construction described with reference to Fig. 11, and similarly have their ends turned over outwardly, to form gripping hooks 22 which engage over the edges of the outwardly projecting flanges of the angle bars 19, as shown.

It is obvious that various modifications may be made in the constructions shown in the drawings and above particularly described, within the principle and scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a metal pole construction, the combination of a pair of channel bars forming horizontally spaced main side uprights disposed with the flanges of these channel bars in alignment with one another for the respective channel bars, a series of vertically spaced horizontal clip bars firmly and rigidly connecting these channel bars together at the opposite flanged sides of the pair of channel bars, each of the said clip bars comprising a straight flat strip lying against the outer sides of the aligned flanges, and an oppositely projecting cross arm to lie at against the outer face of one of the said clip bars and having a prong struck therefrom intermediate of its length to engage over the top edge and down at the inner side of the clip bar, with the lower end of this prong bent outward beneath the lower edge of the said clip bar for locking the cross arm to the clip bar.

2. In a metal pole construction, the combination of a pair of channel bars forming horizontally spaced main side uprights disposed with the flanges of these channel bars in alignment with one another for the respective channel bars, a

series of vertically spaced horizontal clip bars' rmly and rigidly connecting these channel bars together at the opposite flanged sides of the pair of channel bars, each of the said clip bars comprising a straight flat strip lying against the outer sides of the aligned flanges, and an oppositely projecting cross arm which is in general of 90 angle shape disposed to have a top iiange therecf projecting outwardly, and with a downwardly extending iiange thereof of greater width than and lying against the outer face of one of the said clip bars, this downwardly extending ange having a prong struck back therefrom intermediate of its length to engage over the upper edge and down at the inner side of the clip bar, with the lower end of this prong bent outward beneath the lower edge of the said clip bar, this downwardly extending flange of the cross arm also having at opposite sides of the said prong lower edge portions bent rearwardly beneath the lower edge of the clip bar.

3. In a metal pole construction, the combination of a pair of channel bars forming horizontally spaced mam side uprights with the flat web sides of these channel bars facing inwardly towards each other in opposed relation and with the ilanges of these channel bars directed outwardly in alignment with one another for the respective channel bars, a series of outwardly straight flat vertically spaced horizontal clip bars lying against the outer sides of the aligned flanges at each of the opposite flanged sides of the pair cf channel bars, the said clip bars having abrupt shoulders struck inwardly therefrom against which the adjacent margins of the flat web sides Y of the channel bars abut and having their ends bent over in hooked shape around the edge or" and to grip firmly the outwardly projecting anges of the respective channel bars, and an oppositely projecting cross arm to lie flat against the outer face or" one of the said clip bars and having a prong struck therefrom intermediate of its length to engage over the top and down at the inner side of the clip bar with the lower end of this prong bent outward beneath the said clip bar for locking the cross arm to the clip bar.

e. In a metal pole construction, the combination of a pair of channel bars forming horizontally spaced main side uprights with the iiat web sides of these channel bars facing inwardly towards each other in opposed relation and with the flanges of these channel bars directed outwardly in alignment with one another for the respective channel bars, a series of outwardly straight flat vertically spaced horizontal clip bars lying against the outer sides of the aligned anges at each of the opposite hanged sides of the pair of channel bars, the said clip bars having abrupt shoulders struck inwardly therefrom against which the adjacent margins of the iiat web sides of the channel bars abut and having their ends bent over in hooked shape around the edge of and to grip firmly the outwardly projecting anges of the 1 respective channel bars, and an oppositeiy projecting cross arm which is in general of 90o angle shape disposed to have one of its flanges along its top projecting outwardly while its other flange extends downwardly and lies against the outer the said clip bar for locking the cross arm to the clip bar.

5. In a metal pole construction, the combination of a pair of channel bars forming horizontally spaced main side uprights with the flat web sides of these channel bars facing inwardly towards each other in opposed relation and with the flanges of these channel bars directed outwardly in alignment with one another for the respective channel bars, a series of outwardly straight flat vertically spaced horizontal clip bars lying against the outer sides of the aligned flanges at each of the opposite flanged sides of the pair of channel bars, the said clip bars having abrupt shoulders struck inwardly therefrom against which the adjacent margins of the iiat web sides of the channel bars abut and having their ends bent over in hooked shape around the edge of and to grip firmly the outwardly projecting flanges of the respective channel bars, and an oppositely projecting cross arm of greater width lying against the outer face of the said clip bar and having a prong struck back therefrom intermediate or" its length to engage over the top edge and down at the inner side of the clip bar, with the lower end of this prong bent outward beneath the lower edge of the said clip bar for locking the cross arm to the clip bar, this cross arm also having a lower edge portion bent rearwardly beneath the lower edge of the clip bar for thereby further firmly securing the said cross arm to the said clip bar.

6. In a metal pole construction, the combination oi a pair of channel bars forming horizontally spaced main side uprights with the fiat web sides of these channel bars facing inwardly towards each other in opposed relation and with the flanges of these channel bars directed outwardly in alignment with one another for the respective channel bars, a series of outwardly straight fiat vertically spaced horizontal clip bars lying against the outer sides of the aligned anges at each of the opposite iianged sides of the pair of channel bars, the said clip bars having abrupt shoulders struck inwardly therefrom against which the adjacent margins of the flat web sides of the channel bars abut and having their ends bent over in hooked shape around the edge of and to grip firmly the outwardly projecting flanges of the respective channel bars, and an oppositely projecting cross arrn which is in general of angle shape disposed to have a top edge projecting outwardly and with a downwardly extending ange of greater width than and lying against the outer face of one of the said clip bars, this downwardly extending flange having a prong struck back therefrom intermediate of its length to engage over the upper edge and down at the inner side oi the clip bar with the lower end of this prong bent outward beneath the lower edge of the said clip bar, this downwardly extending flange ci the cross arin also having at opposite sides of the said prong lower edge portions bent rearwardly beneath the lower edge of the clip bar, whereby the cross arm will be sei curely locked to the clip bar against relative movement.

CARL E. KNUTSEN. 

